It means crosses will appear before you and you are to always keep your faith and carry them in imitation of Christ. Disease, temptation, persecution, death, no point in running or complaining.
Also this doesnt happen in a deserving or undeserving way, it doesnt follow a karma model like eastern religions.
This passage in John is related:
"And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him."
Therefore the miseries in your life are opportunities for God to manifest through others and ourselves. By bringing forth love, charity, compassion, patience, He forges our virtues. Like lowly carbon having to be put under extreme stress to become a diamond.